a question (1 Viewer)

[m_isk]

Hi guys, I found this question in a past paper and am unsure what the answer is.

A mixure of ethanol and ethylene is heated with concentrated sulfuric acid in a closed container and a reaction occurs. What is the likely outcome?

(A) more ethylene forms
(B) more ethanol forms
(C) CO2 and H20 form
(D) butane forms

I can rule out C and D (not 100% sure why, though). I'm leaning towards A beacuse CONCENTRATED sulfuric acid will not allow the water present in ethanol to exist. Am I correct?? :S

 

[Pace_T]

in the reaction where ethanol is dehydrated, it loses a water molecule because of the concentrated sulfuric acid.

in C, i am pretty sure CO2 doesn't form in the dehydration of ethanol
C2H5OH --> C2H4 + H2O
so yeh, water forms, but not CO2
ethylene forms from the above reaction
so its A i think

 

[rnitya_25]

the reaction here is where ethanol and ethylene are added with sulfuric acid so it would be:C2H5OH + C2H4 + H2SO4 -->? now, im not sure whether sulfuric acid is used as a catalyst or an addtion to the reaction, but i am also leaning towards A. I think its A, get back to with the right answer.

 

[Emma-Jayde]

It's a dehydration process, the H₂SO₄ is used as a catalyst to produce more ethylene.

C₂H₅OH --H₂SO₄--> C₂H₄ + H₂O